Panel and trim assembly

ABSTRACT

A combination panel and peripheral trim assembly is shown that permits a panel of two distinct thicknesses to be snuggly accepted within the channel defined by the trim. The panel is bounded by an integral peripheral area offset from the general plane of the panel. The trim for snuggly engaging the edge of the panel defines generally a sidewardly opening U shape, thereby providing a channel which receives the offset area, with one leg of the U having a length less than the width of the offset area and the opposing leg of the U having a length extending at least beyond the offset area. The distance between the termination point of the longer leg and an extension of the opposing shorter leg to subadjacent that point defining the effective opening into the U-shape and being generally the sum of the thickness of the panel and the height of the offset from the general plane of the panel.

United States Patent [191 Bebinger June 28, 1974 PANEL AND TRIM ASSEMBLY Primary Examiner-Henry C. Sutherland Assistant ExaminerCarl D. Friedman [75] Inventor. Jack E. Beblnger, Columbus, Ohio Attorney, g or Firm F. A winans [73] Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa. [57 ABSTRACT [22] Fil d; Jan, 16, 1973 A combination panel and peripheral trim assembly is shown that permits a panel of two distinct thicknesses [2| 1 App! 324052 to be snuggly accepted within the channel defined by the trim. The panel is bounded by an integral periph- [52] US. Cl 52/614, 52/623, 52/627, eral area Offset from the general plane of the panel. 312/1403 The trim for snuggly engaging the edge of the panel [51] Int. Cl E04b 2/18 fines gen rally a sidewardly opening U shape, [58] Field of Search 52/623, 624, 625, 626, thereby providing a channel which receives the offset 52/627, 614, 622, 613; 108/27; 312/1403, area, with one leg of the U having a length less than 1404; 40/152 the width of the offset area and the opposing leg of the U having a length extending at least beyond the offset [56] References Cit d area. The distance between the termination point of UNITED STATES PATENTS the longer leg and an extension of the opposing 2 798 261 7/1957 Grei 52/624 x shorter leg to subadjacent that point defining the ef- 3:296:745 1/1967 iohn selfe iZi. IIIIIII III 52/623 X fecuve Openmg the u'shape and bemg generally the sum of the thickness of the panel and the height of the offset from the general plane of the panel.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH28 I914 3820.296

FIG. I.

III]

.w l FIG. 2.

FIG. 3.

The invention has general utility in housing assemblies for appliances, such as dishwashers that are normally housed within a vertical wrapper formed of sheet DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART In that dishwashers are generally situated in the kitchen area, the horizontal top of the housing has naturally lent itself to providing a work area. In this respect, the more expensive models generally have a top that permits the surface to be used as a cutting board of the like, as by covering the sheet metal with a more durable material such as Micarta countertop material, whereas the less expensive models offer generally a painted sheet metal top. It is apparent that because of this the thickness of the top varies for various models and, previously, each thickness was associated with a trim member having dimensions uniquely applicable thereto to properly accommodate the thickness. This required inventories of different trim and generally added to the manufacturing expenses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The panel and trim assembly of the present invention includes a top member having a peripheral offset area and a trim member which defines a sidewardly opening U-shaped channel for receiving this offset area, the top leg of which has sufficient length to extend beyond the offset area and the bottom opposing leg being shorter than the offset area. The effective throat opening into the channel is generally equal to the sum of the thickness of the top panel sheet plus the height of the offset. Also. the height of the offset is substantially equal to one-half the thickness of a sheet of covering material that can be applied to convert the top to a durable work surface.

Thus, in one orientation, and for the generally less expensive top, a painted metal panel is snuggly received within the trim channel with the offset portion being lower than the general plane of the panel. And, by inverting the top panel so the offset portion is above the general plane of the panel and attaching, as by cementing, a sheet of material such as Micarta countertop material, within the area bounded by the offset and of a thickness of twice the height of the offset, the same trim can be used to snuggly engage the periphery of the top panel with a more durable work surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of a dishwasher;

FIG. 2 is an elevational cross sectional view of the top assembly of the dishwasher taken along lines "-11 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the top panel inverted and the top assembly including an attached work surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The specific embodiment of the present invention provides a top assembly for a well-known appliance such as a dishwasher. Initially referring to FIG. 1, the dishwasher 10 is seen to include a cabinet or housing generally comprising a wrapper or panels 12 formed of sheet metal providing the vertical walls of the housing, with one of the walls providing an access opening to the interior and hingedly supporting a door 14 for closing the opening.

A generally planar horizontal member 16 having a periphery generally contiguous with the top edge of the vertical walls forms the top panel of the housing. The peripheral juncture of the vertical walls and the horizontal member 16 is enclosed in a peripheral trim member 18, formed of a length of an extruded metal, such as aluminum, having appropriate mitered notches so that it can be bent to conform to the generally rectangular shape of the housing. As a practical matter in the assembly of the housing, the trim member 18 is attached to the horizontal member 16 to provide a top assembly that is subsequently placed on top of the vertical walls of the wrapper 12 to complete the housing.

As was previously stated, the horizontal member 16 obviously lends itself to be used in the same manner as a kitchen countertop to either storingly support articles thereon or as a work surface such as a cutting board. This in turn requires that a top be provided to generally withstand the ultimate type of use the consumer desires. Thus, the use criteria can generally be satisfactorily provided for by supplying some dishwashers with a painted sheet metal top and other dishwashers having more durable surface such as a molded plastic Micarta top cemented to the sheet metal. It is evident that, depending upon which type is produced, the thickness of the top can vary from a single sheet metal thickness to a thickness including the sheet metal plus the Micarta material.

Further, as previously stated, it is desirable to have the trim member 18 snuggly engage the horizontal member 16 to reduce the chance of dirt etc. becoming lodged at their interface and to provide a gently con toured transition from the horizontal surface to the trim.

With this in mind, reference is made to FIG. 2 to show the top assembly of the present invention that permits the use of a single trim member to snuggly accommodate either thickness of the horizontal member depending upon which type of top is being assembled.

The trim member 18, as viewed in a cross section which is typical throughout its length, generally has the configuration of an F; however, as the lowermost vertical portion 20 provides a flange for engagement with the vertical walls of the wrapper, as is well known in the art, the invention is primarily concerned with the generally U-shaped upper portion defining a channel which receives the horizontal member 16.

Thus, it is seen, the horizontal member 16 is peripherally bounded by an integral area 22 offset from the general plane of the member 16 a predetermined distance H. (Although the cross section shown is taken at only one plane through the assembly it is to be understood that it is typical of the periphery of the top assembly 14 wherever the trim member 18 and the horizontal member 16 are joined).

The U-shaped channel of the trim member 18 is defined by an upper leg 24, initially extending horizontally for a short distance and then inclined downwardly terminating at a tip 26, and opposing lower horizontally extending leg 28, the two legs joined by a vertical bight portion 30.

It is noted that the effective horizontal length L of the upper leg is greater than the total width W of the offset area 22 so that tip 26 contacts the inner generally horizontal portion of the top, whereas the lower leg 28 is of a shorter length 1 so that it terminates within the horizontal section 22a of the offset area 22.

Also, it is to be noted that the effectivethroat opening T (defined as the distance least between the tip 26 and the normal horizontal extension of the lower leg 28) is generally equal to the total of the thickness of the sheet panel t and the height of the offset H.

in this manner, in the orientation shown in FIG. 2, when assembling tops which have only a painted surface, the horizontal member 16 is inserted into the channel of the trim 18 with the integral offset area positioned below the general plane of the horizontal member so that the member snuggly fits within the channel. For purposes of solidly securing the assembly, self tapping screws 32 joining the horizontal extension 22a of the offset portion to the lower leg 28.are intermittently spaced therearound.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a top assembly is shown including an additional layer, such as a layer of Micarta molded plastic 34, cemented to the sheet panel and exposed as the upper surface. In this instance, the top horizontal member 16 is inverted so that the offset area 22 is above the genera] plane of at least the sheet metal portion of the horizontal member. The sheet of additional material 34 is attached to the upper surface of the sheet metal within that area bounded by the offset area 22 thus providing a rather tough, durable work surface. The top horizontal member including the additional layer 34 is then inserted into the channel defined by the trim with the layer 34 on top, and as seen in FIG. 3, tip 26 of the upper leg 24 extends to abut the layer 34 and the horizontal extension 220 of the offset area 22 again rests on the lower-leg 28. And, as before, the lower leg and horizontal extension 22a are joined through self-tapping screws.

It is noted that the thickness of the additional layer 34 must be generally twice the height H of the offset. Therefore, knowing the thickness of the additional layer (in the case of Micarta the thickness is approximately 0.06 inches) the height of the offset can be determined (0.03 inches). Knowing this and knowing the thickness t of the sheet panel (0.032 sheet steel), the throat opening T can be determined (0.062 inches) so that the top horizontal member can be snugly received within the channel of the trim 18 in either of the shown orientations depending only on which type of top assembly is desired.

I claim:

1. A combination panel member and peripheral trim to rsnus xa wrnss ats s tii rsnse wp ses thicknesses of said panel member wherein at least selected portions of the peripheral area of said panel member are covered by said trim, said selected portions defining, as viewed in a cross section perpendicu lar to the general plane of said panel member, an offset section adjacent the periphery of said panel member displaced from the general plane of said panel member a predetermined distance said section having a predetermined thickness, and said trim member defines a generally U-shaped channel for receiving said selected portions of the peripheral area within the channel, said U-shaped channel having opposing legs, one of said legs extending to at least beyond said offset section and the other of said legs terminating within said offset section, said legs providing an effective opening into said channel, defined as the least distance between horizontal extensions of opposed panel engaging surfaces of said legs, just sufficient to accommodate said predetermined thickness of said offset section of said panel plus the height of the offset.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said panel member is oriented within said channel of said trim such that said one of said legs of said trim is in facing contact with said panel beyond said offset section and said other of said legs is in facing contact with said offset section of said panel.

3. Structure according to claim 1 including a separate sheet of material attached to said panel member within the area bounded by said offset section and having a thickness extending from the general plane of the panel in generally the same direction as the offset, said thickness of said material being substantially twice said predetermined distance of the offset.

4. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said panel member is oriented within said channel of said trim such that said one of said legs of said trim is in facing contact with said separate sheet beyond said offset section and said other of said legs is in facing contact with said offset section of said panel.

5. Structure according to claim 1 including means to positively secure said trim in proper position over said selected portions of said peripheral area.

6. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said securement means includes screws engaging facing portions of said offset section of said panel and said other of said legs on said trim. 

1. A combination panel member and peripheral trim to snuggly accommodate either one of two separate thicknesses of said panel member wherein at least selected portions of the peripheral area of said panel member are covered by said trim, said selected portions defining, as viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the general plane of said panel member, an offset section adjacent the periphery of said panel member displaced from the general plane of said panel member a predetermined distance said section having a predetermined thickness, and said trim member defines a generally U-shaped channel for receiving said selected portions of the peripheral area within the channel, said U-shaped channel having opposing legs, one of said legs extending to at least beyond said offset section and the other of said legs terminating within said offset section, said legs providing an effective opening into said channel, defined as the least distance between horizontal extensions of opposed panel engaging surfaces of said legs, just sufficient to accommodate sAid predetermined thickness of said offset section of said panel plus the height of the offset.
 2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said panel member is oriented within said channel of said trim such that said one of said legs of said trim is in facing contact with said panel beyond said offset section and said other of said legs is in facing contact with said offset section of said panel.
 3. Structure according to claim 1 including a separate sheet of material attached to said panel member within the area bounded by said offset section and having a thickness extending from the general plane of the panel in generally the same direction as the offset, said thickness of said material being substantially twice said predetermined distance of the offset.
 4. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said panel member is oriented within said channel of said trim such that said one of said legs of said trim is in facing contact with said separate sheet beyond said offset section and said other of said legs is in facing contact with said offset section of said panel.
 5. Structure according to claim 1 including means to positively secure said trim in proper position over said selected portions of said peripheral area.
 6. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said securement means includes screws engaging facing portions of said offset section of said panel and said other of said legs on said trim. 